The Debut (2000): cast, story & where to watch
2000 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 2000, The Debut is a drama film directed by Gene Cajayon, running about 88 minutes. “One night can change a lifetime.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Basco) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film.
Who’s in it. The Debut stars Dante Basco as Ben Mercado, Jayson Schaal as Doug, Brian Card as Dave and Mindy Spence as Jennifer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Debut has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Debut page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Debut tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Debut (2000)?
- In US, The Debut is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Debut worth watching?
- The Debut holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Debut?
- The Debut stars Dante Basco, Jayson Schaal, Brian Card, Mindy Spence and Nicole Hawkyard.
- When was The Debut released?
- The Debut was released in 2000, with a runtime of about 88 minutes.